Giddy over the sudden success of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, currently tied for top spot in the West with B.C., a Regina Leader-Post reporter actually dared to suggest that the Labour Day Classic between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Riders is "a possible Grey Cup preview."

Both the 4-2-1 Bombers and Saskatchewan must still play a CFL match against different opponents before that contest in Regina. But Jerry Maslowsky, Bomber vice-president of marketing, likes the idea.

"I would have loved to have seen it last year when we were hosting (the Cup)," he said. "But it seems like teams that have just hosted a Grey Cup get into it the following year."

But don't get carried away.

"The Labour Day Classic is the Labour Day Classic," responded Bomber president/CEO Lyle Bauer. "There's a whole ton of football to play and a whole lot can happen between now and then. But it's good to see two prairie teams doing well and drawing well, too."

The Labour Day Classic has been sold out for some time.

DUNCAN BACK: Duncan O'Mahony, the punter who disappeared on his way to Bomber training camp in 2006, has been granted a one-game audition by the Calgary Stampeders. Head coach Tom Higgins will sit P Burke Dales because he wants better ball placement on punts.

"The door is open for Duncan and it's not shut for Burke," Higgins told Calgary reporters. "One has a huge leg (Dales) and the other doesn't have a huge leg but has a unique ability to punt the ball directionally."

After O'Mahony was beaten out by Dales at Calgary's 2007 camp, he went to the Okanagan where his girlfriend lives and was seeking a job in the insurance field.

MEASURING STICK: Some observers believe that too many are getting too carried away after the Bombers beat the Lions in Vancouver last weekend.

"They're still the Grey Cup champions," Higgins told the Calgary Sun as the Stamps prepare to host the Leos this week. "They're still the team everybody measures themselves against, no matter what their recent record may be."

ROCKY III?: The Bombers, by the way, passed on Rocky Butler when Hamilton cut him earlier this year. Toronto tracked him down in the U.S. and the quarterback will reportedly start for the Argos when they come to town on Aug. 24.

"I think we can win if Rocky continues to improve from the first game he played (against Montreal on Aug. 2)," Argo GM Adam Rita told the Globe and Mail. "I'm really excited we got him."

Dominique Dorsey, who was cut by Winnipeg in training camp, is expected to start at tailback.

HASHMARKS: Last Friday's game between Toronto and Saskatchewan reportedly drew 563,000, TSN's best ratings this CFL season, and sixth-best all-time for a TSN-produced CFL contest ... Calgary LB Scott Coe, a native Manitoban, plans to play this week despite a broken hand ... Reports out of Green Bay are that former Bomber P Jon Ryan's job is "more secure" than that of PK Dave Rayner.